SONARGAON, N'GANJ, Jan 21: With winter at its peak, a glass of fresh date palm juice has become a favourite treat for many, drawing juice lovers to orchards across the country in the early mornings.
In Sonargaon Upazila of Narayanganj, Shahid Molla, a 46-year-old farmer from Hamshadi area of Baidyer Bazar Union, is meeting the rising demand for pure date palm juice. His orchard has attracted visitors from various parts of the region, though he admits he is unable to meet the full demand.
Shahid Molla, son of the late Bajlur Rahman Molla of Bhanga Upazila in Faridpur, has been in the seasonal date palm juice business for seven to eight years, purchasing orchards across different districts. This year, he acquired a 10-percent portion of a date palm orchard in Hamshadi for Tk 50,000 under a seasonal contract. The orchard has 27 trees, from which he collects about 60-65 liters of juice daily. Each liter is sold at Tk 150-160.
Visitors come early in the morning by motorcycles to purchase fresh juice. Imran Hossain, a buyer from Mograpara Chourasta area, said, "Due to unplanned urbanization, many fruit and forest trees are disappearing. I never imagined such fresh date palm juice could be found in Hamshadi. They even ensure that no animals can access the juice, and each collection pot is covered to prevent bat interference, guaranteeing purity."
Young visitors such as Rakibul, who came from Rayarbag looking for juice, sometimes leave disappointed when it runs out but plan to return on another day.
Shahid Molla explained that he purchased the orchard with local resident Rakib under a partnership agreement for Tk 50,000. "We started collecting juice in December, and so far I have sold around Tk 200,000 worth. I hope to sell an additional Tk 100,000. We collect juice twice daily, at dawn and around 9 pm," he said.
He added that many people travel long distances for the juice, but due to the limited number of orchards, he cannot meet everyone's demand. "The business lasts only three months, and we wait the whole year for this short season. My partner and I take care of the trees during this time," Shahid Molla said.
When asked about support from the Upazila Agriculture Office, he said he had not contacted any officials. Sonargaon Upazila Agriculture Officer Abu Said Tarek said the office regularly checks on date palm orchard farmers and maintains contact, though incentives remain limited.
